Building construction.



H. J. WAGNER. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION HLBD Nov. 1s, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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nieuwe H. J. WAGNER. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION. APPLIGATION FILED Nov.1s,1911.

1,046,91 O. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2A @mum/Woe )ZJW :ver

H. J.' WAGNER. BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 13, 1911. I 1 ,046,910. Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

3 SHEETS-'SHEET 3.

HENRY J'. WAGNER, OF DEL'LWOOID, NEW YORK.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 13, 1911.

Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

Serial No. 659,960.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY J. WAGNER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Dellwood, in the county ofErie and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Building Construction, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to building construction and has for itsprincipal object to provide a hollow building wall built up of aplurality of plastic blocks, a gutter removably arranged in certain ofthe blocks in line with the roof covering of the building, and means forsupplying hot air to the gutter supporting blocks whereby snow or iceaccumulating in the gutter is melted.

Another object resides in the provision of improved means for supportingthe gutter, said supporting means being provided with a plurality ofintercommunicating air, channels or passages whereby a continuouscirculation of hot air beneath the gutter may be maintained.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved gutterconstruction and mounting therefor which may be readily assembled upon abuilding wall at a minimum expenditure of time and labor, is extremelystrong and durable in construction and may be produced at comparativelysmall cost.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of thenovel features of construction, combination and arrangement of partshereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section througha portion of a buildingwall, the cornice thereof and a fragment of theroof showing the manner in which the wall blocks are assembled andconstructed and the trough or gutterl held in position; Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top planview of the gutter supporting block; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of theroof supporting block; Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5 of Fig.1; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;Fig. 7 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 1, showing a slightlymodified form of the gutter holding block; Fig. 8 is a horizontalsection taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

The building wall consists of a plurality of blocks generally designatedby the numeral 5 and each of said blocks is provided with spacedvertical air passages 6. The ends of the blocks are also recessed sothat the abutting ends of the adjacent blocks form the smallersupplementary air passages 7. The uppermost blocks designated 8 and 9respectively are of greater width than the blocks forming the body ofthe wall to provide the inwardly extending overhanging portions 10whereby the stability of the wall structure is increased. r1`he topblocks 8 of the wall are also provided upon their upper outer edges withthe longitudinally extendingshoulders 11 the inner or rear faces 12 ofwhich are inclined as clearly shown in Fig. 1 and against these facesand the upper face of the inner portion of the blocks the lower outerends of the rafters R of the roof abut.l The blocks: 9 are also formedwith the ledges or lianges 13 which project upwardly and outwardly fromthe outer faces of said blocks whereby the grooves or channels 14: areformed therein.. The rear walls of these grooves or channels and theouter faces of the blocks S are slightly inclined as indicated at 15 andagainst the same the inclined rear wall 17 of the gutter blocks 16engages. The upper edge of this rear wall of the gutter blocks extendsbeneath the overhanging shingles S of the roof covering S.

The gutter blocks 16 are preferably of the cross sectional form shown inFig. 1 to provide a comparatively deep trough 18. These gutter blockssimply rest upon the blocks S and 9 and are not secured thereto so thatthey may be readily removed when desired. r1`he opposed ends of theblocks forming the gutter, are, however, connected permanently by meansof cement or other binding material. Each of the gutter blocks isprovided upon its outer edge with a downwardly and outwardly inclinedextension 19 which overlaps upon the covering C of a cornice frame F.This frame is constructed from the transversely disposed timbers f tothe outer ends of which the angularly extending timbers f are rigidlysecured, said timbers being connected and braced by means of the barsf2. The inner ends of the timbers f and f are notched in their upper andlower edges respectively as shown at f3 and f4. To the ends of thetimbers f and f the wood reinforcing strips f5 are secured. The buildingblocks 2O which are disposed immediately beneath the blocks 9 areprovided with outwardly inclined projections 21 upon their outer facesto be received in the notches or recesses f4 in the Lipper ends of theframe timbers f. The building blocks 22 are also providedv with thedownwardly disposed ribs or extensions 23 at their outer edges to bereceived in the notches f3 of the frame timbers f. The retainingbrackets shown in detail in Fig. 13 are secured to the inner ends of thecornice timbers and consist of a body plate 24C provided on one end withthe spaced arms 25 between which the reinforced ends of the timbers arereceived. A bolt 26 eX- tends through the ends of these arms to rigidlysecure the frame timber therebetween.

Of course it is understood that the superimposed building blocks aresecured together by mortar placed between them and the end of the plate24 of the timber bracket is embedded in this mortar and has its innerend angularly disposed over the edge of one of the openings in the wallblock as indicated at 27. The construction of the cornice is finished bymeans of the trimming planks fGr which are secured to the lower edges ofthe transverse timbers fr. The blocks 2S of the building` wallimmediately beneath the cornice have their outer faces finished with anydesired ornamentation as indicated at 29 and v ing of the roof andcornicemay consist of slate or metal plates so that my improved wallconstruction provides an absolutely lireproof roof for the building. Theentire cornice could be consumed by tiames without endangering the roofproper owing to the interpositioning of the heat resisting plasticblocks 8 and 9 and' also the peculiar construction and arrangement ofthe gutter having the outwardly and downwardly extending edge portionwhich laps upon the covering of the cornice.

While the foregoing constitutes the principal and essential features ofthe present invention, I have also devised several other novel featuresin the construction of walls of the character which I will now proceedto describe in detail.

In order to provide a perfectly rigid wall and to prevent the relativemovement of the building blocks or the buckling of the wall, the tierods 31 and 32 are employed, the rods 31 being disposed within the walland eX- tending through the alined air passages 6 of the buildingblocks. Between the inner portions of the superimposed blocks thetriangular connecting plates 33 are arranged and embedded in the mortaror other binding material. rIhe inner ends ofthese plates eX- tend aslight distance into the openings 6 of the blocks and are provided witha plurality of openings 34e through which the rods 31 extend. rlheseopenings are of rectangular form and are provided with the entrances 34which open upon the longitudinal edges of the plate. @ne end of the rod31 is provided with an enlarged head 31 and a rectangular enlargement31u to fit into the opening 3-1 in the tie plate. In this manner the rodmay be inserted from the top of the wall through the alined openings inthe building blocks, and the portion 31a thereof readily moved into theopenings 34- through the entrance 3st. The uppermost blocks 8 of thewall are not provided with air passages 6 but in their under surfacesare recessed as indicated at to receive the upper ends of the rods 31.rlhese rods are threaded to receive the nuts 36 which engage upon theopposite faces of the plates and rigidly secure the tie rods thereto.The outer ends of the plates 33 are also each provided with a singleopening 34 to receive the tie rods 32 which are arranged upon the innerfaces of the building wall and have nuts 36 threaded thereon to retainthe rods in their adjusted positions. The connecting plate between theblocks 9 and 20 is also provided with a central opening 34a to receivethe upper end of the tie rod 32. The end of this plate and of the platebetween the blocks 8 and 9 receive the tie rod 37 which also extendsthrough the end of a plate 33a disposed upon the top of the wall block 8and beneath the end of the roof rafter R. The other end of this latterplate is arranged upon the upper end of av bolt 3S which is embedded inthe block 8. The upper end of the tie rod 37 is bolted or otherwiserigidly secured as indicated at 39, to the rafter It. In this manner itwill be seen that an absolut-ely rigid connection between thesuperin'iposed wall blocks is obtained whereby a maximum of rigidity issecured and liability of buckling of the wall is obviated.

As above stated the blocks S and 9 are provided with inwardly projectingstabilizing portions and the under side of this portion of the blocks l0has a channel 4l() formed therein in which a steam pipe 41 is arranged.Transverse channels L12 open into the channel 40 at one of their endsand at their other ends open intothe air passages G in the blocks. y Asclearly shown in I? ig. 1 the outer faces of the blocks 8 and 9 are alsoprovided with air chambers 43 and 44 rcspectively, the latter chambersextending across the base of the trough 14: in the blocks 9 and theinclined iianges 13 thereof. A short transverse channel 4-5 connects thechamber 14- with the central air passage G of the building block therebyproviding a series of communicating passages through the blocks 8 and 9for the continuous circulation of the heated air.

IOL

Attention is now directed to Fig. 6 wherein a plurality of ribs 46 areshown formed upon the blocks 9 and separating the spaced channels orchambers 44. It will be observed that the ribs 46 at one end of thebuilding wall are of greater height than those at the other end thereof,said ribs gradually diminishing in height from end to end of the wall sothat the gutter is longitudinally inclined to form a raceway for thewater and direct the same into the drain spout arranged at one end ofthe roof. The chambers 43 in the blocks 8 extend throughout the lengththereof and form one continuous channel or passage behind the rear wall17 of the gutter into which the heatedair flows from the chambers 44 ofthe blocks 9. The channels or chambers 44 formed in the ends of adjacentblocks 9 are filled in with cement or other plastic material asindicated at 47 so as to provide an absolutely water-tight joint betweensaid blocks. By this construction it will be readily seen thataecumulations of snow and ice in the gutter 19 will be readily melted byheating the Walls of the gutter in the manner above described. Thesurface of the blocks 8 including the shoulders thereon are providedwith longitudinal recesses 48 whereby air chambers are formed bet-weensaid block and the roof rafters thus further insuring the protection of.the roof against fire.

In Figs. 7 and 8 of the drawings I have illustrated a slightly modifiedform of the gutter holding blocks. The roof supporting blocks 8 are ofsubstantially the same form as those previously described. The blocks 9,however, are provided on their outer lower edges with the depending ribs49 which are adapted to engage over the lugs or projections 51 formedupon the inner edges of the gut-ter blocks 50. These lugs are receivedin the spaced recesses 52 provided in the outer edge of the wall blocksQ0. The block 20 is provided in its upper surface and at its outer edgewith a shallow longitudinal groove or depression 53 to provide a seatfor the convex face of the curved inner edge 50 of the gutter block onwhich the aforementioned lugs or projections 51= are formed. By thusforming the inner edge of the gutter block a space 54 is providedbetween the concave surfaces of the gutter blocks and the lower ends ofthe longitudinal ribs 49 on t-he blocks 9. Certain of the lugs 51 formedon the inner edges of the gutter blocks 50 are provided with recesses 55which coincide with the transverse channels 42 formed in the uppersurfaces of the blocks 20. The longitudinal ribs 49 on the blocks 9 arealso provided with recesses 56 which connect the space 54 between saidblocks and the gutter blocks with the air receiving chambers 43 and 44of the blocks 8 and 9 respectively. In this form of the inventionwherein the separate gutter supporting blocks are employed, the guttersupporting surfaces of saidblocks are also provided with the alternateribs and air chambers 46 and 44a respectively. The upper surfaces of theblocks 9 are also provided with grooves or channels 57 into which theair passes from the chambers 44 back into the building. The steam pipe41 is located adjacent to the inner end of the passage 42. In this formof the invention, the comparatively wide and shallow gutter blocks 16are provided, and the ribs 46 on which said gutter blocks rest are allof the saine height, the base of the gutter being built up as indicatedat 58 to provide t-he inclined raceway for the water. rIhe outer edgesof the gutter' supporting blocks 50 are provided with the verticallydisposed ledges or shoulders 13 upon which the laterally disposed flange19 on the up'per edge of the outer wall of the gutter block rests. Therear wall of the gutter rests closely against the outer faces of theblocks 8 and 9 and extends upwardly beneath the overhanging shingles orother roof covering as described in connection with the preferred formof the invention. Supporting brackets 59 are secured to the outer facesof the blocks 28 and project beneath the gutter supporting blocks 50.These brackets may be constructed of the same or other materials thanthe building blocks. The saine method of bracing or reinforcement forthe wall of the building is employed as that above described in detail.The bolt 38, however, which is embedded in the block 8 extends above thesaine and is rigidly fixed at its upper end to the roof rafter asindicated at 60.

In assembling the above described parts, the gutter supporting blocks 50may be readily inserted by elevating their outer edges so that theblocks are disposed at an angle of abo-ut 450. 'I he provision of thegroove or recess 53 in the upper surface of the blocks 28 permits of theready insertion of the lugs or projections 51 beneath the overhangingshoulder 49 on the blocks 9. The gutter supporting blocks are thenlowered upon the brackets 59 and the sections of the glitter arranged inplace thereon. The supporting brackets 59 may be suitably ornainentedand are preferably arranged between the joints of the adjacent wallblocks 2S. In this manner it will be readily seen that the various partsof the structure may be easily and quickly assembled upon the buildingwall and when properly arranged present a very neat and artisticappearance.

From the foregoing description it is thought that the construction andmanner of assembling the several forms of the invention as above setforth will be fully understood. It will be obvious that many otherarrangements of the various elements than those above described, may beresorted to without materially departing from the principle of theinvention.

The various elements of construction above referred to are all of simpleform and may be readily manufactured at a minimum expense.

It will be understood that I am in no wise restricted to the exact formof the various parts shown in the drawings and therefore reserve theright to modify the same in such respects as would readily oceur to oneskilled in the art.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is l. In buildingconstruction, a building wall, a horizontal series of gutter supportingblocks arranged thereon, said blocks having outwardly projecting ledgesto form a continuous trough, a gutter removably mounted in said trough,said gutter sup-- porting blocks having transverse air passagesextending beneath t-he` gutter and a series of air intake passagescommunicating with said transverse passages, and a pipe arrangedcontiguous to the entrance passages of said blocks to supply acontinuously circulating current of heated air tothe passages beneaththe gutter.

2. In building construction, a building wall, a horizontal series ofgutter supporting blocks arranged thereon and projecting inwardly fromthe face of the building wall, a gutter supported upon said blocks, saidblocks having a plurality of transverse air passages extending beneaththe gutter and a series of air supply passages in communication withsaid transverse passages` the inwardly extending portions of said blocksbeing provided with longitudinal' channels in their bottom faces, and apipe arranged in said channels contiguous to the entrance passages tosupply a constantly circulating current of heated air to the transversepassages beneath the gutter.

3. In building construction, a building wall, gutter supporting blocksarranged thereon and having portions projecting beyon'd the inner andouter facesof the wall, a gutter removably mounted upon the outwardlyprojecting portions of said blocks, said blocks having a plurality ofVtransverse air passages extending beneath the gutter and entrancepassages in communicationwith said transverse passages, a series ofsuperposedblocks arranged on the gutter supporting blocks, the outerfaces of the latter blocks being recessed to provide a continuouslongitudinal chamber connecting the several transverse passages witheach other, and a pipe arranged contiguous to the entrance passages tosupply a continuously circulating current of heated air to the passagesbeneath said gutter and to said chamber.

t. In building construction, a building wall, gutter vsupporting blocksmounted upon said wall and having outwardly projecting portionsextending beyond the face of the wall, a gut-ter arranged upon theprojecting portions of said blocks, said projections being provided witha series of transverse recesses extending beneath the gutter, a seriesof superposed blocks arranged upon the gutter blocks, said latter blockshaving recesses in their outer faces to provide a continuous chamber,the transverse passages in the iirst named blocks communicating withsaid chamber, said gutter having a rear wall disposed over and entirelycovering the recesses in the second named series of blocks, and meansfor supplying a current of heated air to the transverse passages of thefirst named blocks adjacent their point of communication with saidchamber.

5. In building construction, a building wall including a horizontalseries of plastic blocks arranged at the top of the wall, each of saidblocks having a channel formed therein to provide a continuous trough,said blocks also having a plurality of transverse intercomn'iunicatingpassages formed therein, a gutter arranged in said trough over saidpassages, a second series of wall blocks arranged in superposed relationupon the first named series, said latter blocks being provided upontheir outer faces with recesses forming a continuous longitudinallyextending air receiving chamber connecting the transverse passages ofthe first named block, said gutter having a rear upwardly extending walldisposed over said chamber, and means for supplying heated air to saidpassages.

6. In building construction, a building wall, a horizontal series ofgutter supporting blocks mounted thereon, each of said blocks having aplurality of transverse air passages therein, a gutter removably mountedupon said blocks over said air passages *and having a rear upwardlyextending wall, an air receiving chamber arranged against the rear facesof said wall and connecting the transverse passages of said supportingblocks to conduct air from one passage to the other, and means forsupplying heated air to said transverse passages.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atiix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

HENRY J. .lVAGNER Witnesses G. A. Benen,

G. H. BIGKSLER.

Copesiof Vthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by

addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

